Match package



27, 1945. J. EQALTAMOS 2,372,167

MATCH PACKAGE Filed June 9, 1943 IN V EN TOR.

A'rruRNEYs Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFECE MATCH PACKAGE Joseph Emanuel Altamos, Worth, Ill.

Application June. 9, 1943, Serial No. 490,188

1 Claim.

My invention relates to the disposition of matches to be carried on the person, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved match package having covers which must be closed before the match can be struck on the usual striking surface.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the match Figure 9 is a plan view of a paper blank insert.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, Figure 8 illustrates a blank of generally rectangular contour cut at I ll inwardly of and at right angles to the two long edges l2 of the blank. The lines of cut I are parallel but spaced to provide a bight area l4 when the blank is bent back upon itself along the lines It, which lines of bend are in continuation of the respective lines of cut Ill. The lines of cut Ill sever the blank to provide two covers it bendable along lines 20 paralleling the edges I2, with the covers l8 having widths exceeding half the width of the blank. Thus the bight area I4 i integrally connected with body areas 22 extending short distances beyond the outer ends of the covers l8 and formed with tabs 24.

Figure 9 illustrates a small rectangular blank 26 bendable along lines 28 to provide a channel 30. The area 32 of the blank 26 is of the same size and contour as the bight area 14 and is adhesively secured thereto. In forming the match package of Figures 1 and 2, the blank of Figure 8 is bent back upon itself along the lines l6, which also bends the small blank 26 to the channel contour of Figures 1 and 2.

The tabs 24 are bent approximately along lines 34 and placed underneath the covers l8. The two tabs 24 overlap slightly but are spaced for the reception of the match block 36. Thus the tabs ship when viewed according to Figure 5.

2 coact with the body areas 22 to provide a channel 38 in which the base end of the match block 36 is positioned. The match block is then made secure by passing staples 46 through the tabs 24, the match block and the body areas 22. When so connected, the heads 42 of the match block are housed in the channel 38 and the latter provides supporting walls for the covers la in the closed positions of the latter.

Each body area 22 and its cover [8 are provided with the usual striking surface it. To remove a match from the block 36, it is necessary that one of the covers 18 be opened, as in Figure 2. To strike the match, it is then necessary to close that cover before the striking surface M is accessible. Both sides of the match package are identical, with the covers 28 arranged in diagonal relation- Slightly more than half the matches in the block are accessibl through opening of each cover. If the 1 package i turned over for striking purposes after removal of a match, the turning of the package closes the open cover so as to maintain a complete enclosure for the matches. In addition to the cover supporting function of the channel 30, this channel serves as a protective enclosure for the match heads.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of serv- I claim:

In a match package, a match block, an elongated strip folded transversely to embrace said block, said strip having a pair of slits extending inwardly from its opposite longitudinal edges in parallel arrangement medially of the ends of the strip and aligned with bending lines, the ends of the strip having transversely elongated tab portions extending inwardly from the opposed side edges with their inner ends disposed to overlap when folded, said strip having relatively short slits on the bending lines of the tab portions defining a pair of cover portions bendable outwardly with relation to the match block along a line extending longitudinally of the trip between the inner ends of the slots in each side forming portion of the strip.

JOSEPH EMANUEL ALTAMOS. 

